Dean James.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Friday, July 14, 2006
Quote of the Day
On my Google homepage: "After being Turned Down by numerous Publishers, he had decided to write for Posterity."
- George Ade
- George Ade
Thursday, July 13, 2006
What Are You Missing at ConMisterio?
This is what you're missing at ConMisterio (Victor Gischler, Neil Smith, Sean Doolittle):
Red Buttons, R. I. P.
Red Buttons Has Died at 87 - Los Angeles Times: "Red Buttons Has Died at 87
By Dennis McLellan, Times Staff Writer
2:37 PM PDT, July 13, 2006
Red Buttons, the impish former burlesque comic who became an early TV sensation and an Academy Award-winning character actor during a career that spanned more than seven decades, has died. He was 87.
Buttons died today at his Century City home after a long battle with vascular disease, publicist Warren Cowan said."
Red Buttons was a big favorite of mine when my family first got a TV set. "Strange things are happening."
By Dennis McLellan, Times Staff Writer
2:37 PM PDT, July 13, 2006
Red Buttons, the impish former burlesque comic who became an early TV sensation and an Academy Award-winning character actor during a career that spanned more than seven decades, has died. He was 87.
Buttons died today at his Century City home after a long battle with vascular disease, publicist Warren Cowan said."
Red Buttons was a big favorite of mine when my family first got a TV set. "Strange things are happening."
ConMisterio
In a couple of hours Judy and I will be leaving for ConMisterio. There's a great line-up of guests, and the convention should be a lot of fun. Damn Near Dead will be making its debut, and that's worth the trip all by itself. If you won't be there, you can get the book here.
My usual travel anxieties are kicking in, but I'm sure I'll do just fine. At any rate, blogging is likely to be sporadic until I return next Monday. I hope to have some stuff from the convention here, maybe even some surprises. It all depends on how things work out. At any rate, try to remain faithful to the blog while I'm gone, and stay out of trouble.
Dumb Crooks of the Day
WSBTV.com - News - Thieves Try To Cash Stolen Checks That Belong To Bank Employee: "Three people accused of stealing checks in Worth County went to the wrong bank to cash them.
Joyce Powell is a clerk at the Sylvester Banking Company and was at work when a co-worker in the drive-through window told her someone was trying to cash one of her personal checks.
Investigators say the three suspects had just broken into four homes in rural Worth County.
The bank employee stalled the suspects, telling the one presenting the check that he must show some sort of identification. Meanwhile, Powell checked with authorities and learned someone had broken into her house.
The suspects became suspicious and left. But 27-year-old Calvin Barfield had left his driver's license and Social Security card at the bank. It didn't take authorities long to track him to a motel in Albany."
Joyce Powell is a clerk at the Sylvester Banking Company and was at work when a co-worker in the drive-through window told her someone was trying to cash one of her personal checks.
Investigators say the three suspects had just broken into four homes in rural Worth County.
The bank employee stalled the suspects, telling the one presenting the check that he must show some sort of identification. Meanwhile, Powell checked with authorities and learned someone had broken into her house.
The suspects became suspicious and left. But 27-year-old Calvin Barfield had left his driver's license and Social Security card at the bank. It didn't take authorities long to track him to a motel in Albany."
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
The Blonde -- Duane Swierczynski
Back on April Fool's Day of 2005, I recommended that you read Duane Swierczynski's first novel, Secret Dead Men. In October of that same year, I exhorted you to read The Wheelman. And now it's time for me to tell you about The Blonde. I feel kind of sorry for you, since you're going to have to wait until November to read it, whereas I got this cool review copy, nyah, nyah, nyah.
This is a terrific book. It's not at all like either of the the others I mentioned, and yet it is. You might even recognize a character or two. But you won't recognize the plot, which is absolutely nonstop action from first page to last. If the movies don't jump on this one, then the guys in Hollywood are crazier than I think they are.
The book begins at 9:13 P.M. and ends the next morning at 7:58 (except for a couple of short but necessary codas). It begins in the airport in Philadelphia when a woman tells a guy named Jack that she's poisoned his drink. After that come your nanobots, your decapitations, your Sybians (I'm sure Duane heard about this on Howard Stern's show rather than having been around one himself), your secret agents, your Mad Doctors, your doomsday scenario, your Executioner-style War on the Mafia. And then, as I said of Secret Dead Men, it gets really wild.
All you have do to love this book is accept one truly outrageous premise, which I was happy to do. After that, batten down the hatches and hang on for the ride. In November, that is. When you can finally get your hands on a copy.
Like to Watch?
Have we got the job for you!
From the Arizona Republic: "Besides providing security, NBA bodyguards have taken on additional roles in the wake of Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case.
According to a GQ story on NBA groupies, some players are asking friends or bodyguards to stand in and watch any bedroom activities that might take place on the road.
That way, should an accusation surface, a witness can help sort out the truth. For the players, writer Lisa DePaulo points out, this 'isn't just kinky, it's smart business.'"
From the Arizona Republic: "Besides providing security, NBA bodyguards have taken on additional roles in the wake of Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case.
According to a GQ story on NBA groupies, some players are asking friends or bodyguards to stand in and watch any bedroom activities that might take place on the road.
That way, should an accusation surface, a witness can help sort out the truth. For the players, writer Lisa DePaulo points out, this 'isn't just kinky, it's smart business.'"
The Ace Image Library
ACE Doubles (and Singles) Image Library - Main Page - ACE Books - science fiction (SF), mystery, western, potpouri - paperback publishing history, cover art and artist history: "The ACE SF Double had a 21 year life span and went through several numbering systems. In addition, the numbering system included single titles (either short novella length stories or longer, often abridged, stories that had originally been published in hardback) as well as the dos-a-dos (back-to-back) volumes.
The following set of links will take you to the image libraries I have compiled at this time. Please note that these are continually under construction. Any corrections or supplemental information should be send to my e-ddress in the link above."
I just got a note saying that this site has been updated. If you're not familiar with it, you should be. Great paperback cover images abound.
The following set of links will take you to the image libraries I have compiled at this time. Please note that these are continually under construction. Any corrections or supplemental information should be send to my e-ddress in the link above."
I just got a note saying that this site has been updated. If you're not familiar with it, you should be. Great paperback cover images abound.
Bob Dylan on XM
Bob Dylan Theme Time Radio on XM
July 12, 2006
Theme: Flowers
The New San Antonio Rose, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
Grazing in the Grass, Friends of Distinction
A Good Year for the Roses, George Jones
Bob reads Robert Frost’s “A Rose is a Rose”
Bonnie Bunch of Roses, Paul Clayton
Laying on a Bed of Roses, The Muffs
Bob gives a list of state flowers
The Grapevine, Lucky Millinder
Tulip or Turnip, Duke Elllington & his Orchestra
Bob discusses “tulip mania”
Tiptoe through the Tulips, Tiny Tim
Wildwood Flower, the Carter Family
When the Roses Bloom Again, Laura Cantrell
Bob mentions golfing with Ricky Jay. (Bob golfs?) Ricky Jay tells about a woman who lived on the scent of flowers.
Only a Rose, Geraint Watkins
I Threw away the Rose, Merle Haggard
Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool Ya, Wilson Pickett
The Sharpest Thorn, Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
July 12, 2006
Theme: Flowers
The New San Antonio Rose, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
Grazing in the Grass, Friends of Distinction
A Good Year for the Roses, George Jones
Bob reads Robert Frost’s “A Rose is a Rose”
Bonnie Bunch of Roses, Paul Clayton
Laying on a Bed of Roses, The Muffs
Bob gives a list of state flowers
The Grapevine, Lucky Millinder
Tulip or Turnip, Duke Elllington & his Orchestra
Bob discusses “tulip mania”
Tiptoe through the Tulips, Tiny Tim
Wildwood Flower, the Carter Family
When the Roses Bloom Again, Laura Cantrell
Bob mentions golfing with Ricky Jay. (Bob golfs?) Ricky Jay tells about a woman who lived on the scent of flowers.
Only a Rose, Geraint Watkins
I Threw away the Rose, Merle Haggard
Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool Ya, Wilson Pickett
The Sharpest Thorn, Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
Three Matt Helm Novels Reviewed
BULLETS, BROADS, BLACKMAIL & BOMBS >> To Helm and Back ? Bookgasm: Nice review and commnetary on several Matt Helm novels. Check it out.
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